Free Rescued by the Ranger by Dixie Lee Brown

area and many of the local people.
    Hanging on their guests’ every word was normally the high spot of each day for Rachel, but today’s dinner seemed to drag on forever. All too aware of Garrett’s imposing form beside her, she found it nearly impossible to concentrate on the conversation. Instead, her attention focused on her food, which she shuffled around her plate. On the other hand, Garrett was apparently completely comfortable, joining in the discussion as though he’d sat around this same table all his life, much to Rachel’s annoyance.
    Alan Taylor leaned his elbows on the table, his rapt attention evident in the bobbing of his head and the consideration in his penetrating gaze. Linda looked from speaker to speaker, her shoulder-length red hair flipping against one side of her collar and then the other. Their words all blurred together for Rachel—until Alan mentioned that he’d grown up in Texas and still had family there.
    She jumped as though electricity had zapped her nerve endings, then went rigid, her arms braced on the edge of the table, hoping it hadn’t been as noticeable as she feared. Her skin tingled beneath Garrett’s curious stare, and she could feel Alan’s gaze on her as well. That answered the question. Even Peg eyed her with concern etched in the lines around her mouth. Rachel made a conscious effort to relax, which failed big-time. Sad when the mere mention of Texas, her home when her stalker began threatening her, could send her into full-fledged panic.
    As though he knew the reason for her tension, Garrett turned the subject away from Texas. The Taylors had a winter residence in Garrett’s home state of California, so the discussion moved to the housing problems, the economy, and politics. With an uneasy glance toward Peg, Garrett admitted that his father was a US senator from the Golden State.
    “You don’t say. Well, hell, I didn’t vote for him,” Alan said.
    Everyone chuckled except Garrett. Rachel studied him from beneath her lashes, immediately picking up on his discomfort and animosity. Was this a chink in his armor? Something she could use to hasten his departure? In the next breath, a tiny sprout of sympathy unsettled her as red splotches appeared on his face.
    Anger? Was there trouble in paradise? Or was Garrett embarrassed by something about his old man?
    When Amanda had mentioned that her ex-husband was now a US senator and worth a lot of money, Rachel hadn’t given it much thought. Now, however, she could imagine growing up in that household, where the only parental figure had spent most of his time in Washington, DC, and when he’d been home, was probably more concerned about his image than his sons.
    Oh no. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be feeling sorry for Garrett next. The Taylors finally excused themselves, and Rachel immediately began gathering empty dishes, unable to wait another minute to make her escape.
    “Rachel, I’d like you to show Garrett around our mountain while he’s here.” Peg’s words wrapped around Rachel’s thoughts, and for a moment she forgot to breathe.
    “What? What about the Watering Hole? We’re opening in two weeks. I have to take inventory and order supplies.” She glanced at Garrett, and to his credit, he seemed as curious about the answer to her question as she was.
    “There’s plenty of time for all that. And Jonathan said he’d check for needed repairs, so that will take quite a bit off your plate, dear. Garrett isn’t sure how long he’ll be staying yet, but I know Amanda would want him to see as much of the mountain and countryside as possible. I’d give him the grand tour myself, but I just can’t get away right now.” The sadness in Peg’s eyes implored her.
    Rachel bit back the refusal poised on the tip of her tongue, because Peg’s wistful smile told the real story. She was asking for Amanda . . . for her son’s visit to be all that Amanda would have made it if she’d been there. No matter how unfair